| 15 April 2009
Before we can actually determine theories as to why these people exist, we must first understand both what it means to be conservative and what conservatives believe.
Let's start with the definition:
con⋅serv⋅a⋅tive
-adjective- disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.
-noun- a person who is conservative in principles, actions, habits, etc.
Theory #1: People referring to themselves as conservatives do not fully know what it means to be conservative
Hmmm, interesting, basically what we have here is an ideology grounded in keeping things as they are. It seems as though this would imply change and progress is bad. Perhaps this really is what a certain people believe in? I don't think so. This would mean that if we, as a people, were still living in caves and fighting everyday for nothing more than survival, than this is the way we must stay. Is this the best way? It doesn't really matter, but I guarantee "conservatives" would not be happy if that's how it was. We would have no laws, no rights, no technology, and no advancement.
Let's go further and analyze the beliefs of conservatives in the United States of America. To do this we must recognize that there are two political parties; one that is conservative and the other that is not. We now must determine what the conservative party actually supports, and we do this by looking at the politicians in this party.
Conservatives beliefs:
Organized Religion should be promoted in public forums. Firearms should not be restricted. Abortion should be illegal. Gay marriage should be illegal. Racial profiling is necessary. Immigration should be stopped. Labor Unions should be abolished. Global warming is natural. Taxes are bad. Science takes a back seat to organized religion. Imperialism is patriotic. (To name a few.)
Theory #2: People referring to themselves as conservatives became this way for evolutionary reasons pertaining to survival and have yet to advance onto higher reasons of thought.
Organized Religion was a very important tool used to control a large number of people. In fact, organized religion is one of the earliest forms of government. How do you get people to do what you want? You tell them that if they don't, they'll go to hell. How do you solve crimes? Tell people that a higher being wants them to confess their sins. It's that easy. You can even elect a dictator to your religion if you like to create laws, call him the pope if you like.
Firearms, is an easy one. Everyone wants protection to ensure survival. The best way to protect one's self has always been to obtain the best weapon and destroy your enemies. Even monkeys know this.
Anti-abortion of course comes back to religion. Someone told you it was wrong. How can you preserve your religion without babies? It's ok to kill living people if you don't share the same belief system, but to disrupt a mass of stem cells is absurd. It's ok to shot someone in self defense but it's not ok to have control over your own body.
Anti-Gay marriage also comes from religion. Someone said it's not right. A higher power does not approve supposedly. Who cares about equal rights and freedom of choice? If you're not making more babies for our religion we have no need for you. This also falls into the category of imperialism. Everyone should agree with what we think because we are the best, we are superior. That's just rude.
Racial profiling is important in evolutionary survival. In the past people lived in close knit tribes; everyone knew each other and you can trust who you know. Anyone else however is suspect. You look different, I don't recognize you, and how am I to be sure that you're not going to steal my food, kill me, and take my girl. It's a very primitive way of thinking and it's still around today.
Immigration is also dangerous. When living in a world that is only about survival and being able to obtain resources such as food things are different. If we let this other tribe settle in our region they might kill all of our Wholly Mammoths and take away are access to their warm coats and delicious meat. This is very, very old school.
Anti-labor is as old as the hills. How would the pyramids have been built without slaves? What other way is there for people in power to remain in power without taking away rights and/or power from those who are "lower" then you. In the animal kingdom it's very common for those who have power to get all the girls, and to use others for their prosperity. It was not until people realized they could collect all the minds to collaborate their strength in order to overpower the tyrant. Monkeys do this too; it's called having friends and working together.
The Global warming issue comes from the idea that the immediacy of survival is the most important thing. As the human race evolved it was a necessity to live in the now. If I don't do what I need to get through the day then tomorrow doesn't matter. It was certainly true at the time, tens of thousands of years ago. Many people still think like that today. I need my Hummer because it makes people like me, it gets me to work, and it will keep me safe in an accident. Its long term effect is not part of the equation. This is an extreme case of short term thinking.
Taxes are an easy one. I killed this animal, and I get to decide who eats it. It makes perfect sense for a savage. What's mine is mine and I will fight you to the death to keep it, because these things are necessary for my survival. These ideas obviously came before the invention of kindergarten (that's where you learn to share).
Science takes a back seat to organized religion is exactly as it sounds. If you can't explain something, make it up. In ancient times many things were yet to be explained and/or proven. Although today there are still many things unproven, it's about time that you believe in things that have been proven. For the rest of the unknown, feel free to make shit up, but at least make an attempt to use rational thought when forming a hypothesis.
Imperialism also had its reason in the past. It keeps the masses together. It prevents overthrow of those in power. It keeps moral high and insures that anyone will jump at dime to protect the clan. Today it's just a good way to put others down and make enemies.
Theory #3: This theory makes a couple assumptions. First, conservatives are not stupid, and second, that conservatives are not evil. The theory goes like this... conservatives are a product of their surroundings (teachings), they will someday move to a higher level of thought, and they will join the rest of us in change and progress.
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